onset

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: on=set

CIDE DICTIONARY

onset, n. [On + set.].

•  A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "The onset and retire
  Of both your armies."  [1913 Webster]

  "Who on that day the word of onset gave."  [1913 Webster]
•  A setting about; a beginning; -- used especially of diseases or pathological symptoms.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful appendage.  Johnson.  [1913 Webster]

onset, v. t. 

•  To assault; to set upon.  [1913 Webster]
•  To set about; to begin.  Carew.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

onset, n.
1 an attack.
2 a beginning, esp. an energetic or determined one.

THESAURUS

onset

A, aggravated assault, aggression, albertype, alpha, amphibious attack, appearance, armed assault, assailing, assailment, assault, attack, banzai attack, beginning, birth, blast-off, blitz, blitzkrieg, book printing, breakthrough, charge, chromotypography, chromotypy, chromoxylography, collotype, color printing, commencement, counterattack, counteroffensive, coup de main, creation, crippling attack, cutting edge, dawn, dawning, dead set at, debut, descent on, diversion, diversionary attack, drive, edge, electronography, electrostatic printing, establishment, flank attack, flying start, foundation, fresh start, frontal attack, gas attack, genesis, graphic arts, gravure, halftone engraving, head-on attack, history of printing, hit, inauguration, inception, infiltration, initiation, institution, job printing, jump-off, kick-off, leading edge, letterpress, letterpress photoengraving, lightning attack, lightning war, line engraving, lithography, lithogravure, lithophotogravure, mass attack, megadeath, mimeograph, mugging, new departure, offense, offensive, offset, offset lithography, oncoming, onrush, onslaught, opening, origin, origination, outbreak, outset, outstart, overkill, palaeotypography, panzer warfare, photo-offset, photochemical process, photoengraving, photogelatin process, photographic reproduction, photography, photolithography, phototypography, phototypy, photozincography, planographic printing, planography, printing, printmaking, publication, publishing, push, raid, relief printing, rotary photogravure, rotogravure, run against, run at, running start, rush, sally, send-off, setout, setting in motion, setting-up, sheetwork, shock tactics, sortie, square one, start, start-off, starting point, stencil, storming, strike, take-off, three-color printing, two-color printing, typography, typolithography, unprovoked assault, wood-block printing, xerography, xeroprinting, xylotypography, zincography

ROGET THESAURUS

onset

Beginning

N beginning, commencement, opening, outset, incipience, inception, inchoation, introduction, alpha, initial, inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation, rising of the curtain, maiden speech, outbreak, onset, brunt, initiative, move, first move, narrow end of the wedge, thin end of the wedge, fresh start, new departure, origin, source, rise, bud, germ, egg, rudiment, genesis, primogenesis, birth, nativity, cradle, infancy, start, inception, creation, starting point, dawn, evolution, title-page, head, heading, van, caption, fatihah, entrance, entry, inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon, door, gate, gateway, postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule, propylaeum, skirts, border, first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight, rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABC, beginning, initial, initiatory, initiative, inceptive, introductory, incipient, proemial, inaugural, inchoate, inchoative, embryonic, rudimental, primogenial, primeval, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, natal, nascent, first, foremost, leading, maiden, begun, just begun, at the beginning, in the beginning first, in the first place, imprimis, first and foremost, in limine, in the bud, in embryo, in its infancy, from the beginning, from its birth, ab initio, ab ovo, ab incunabilis, ab origine, let's get going!, let's get this show on the road!, up and at 'em!, aller Anfang ist schwer, dimidium facti qui coepit habet, omnium rerum principia parva sunt.

Attack

N attack, assault, assault and battery, onset, onslaught, charge, aggression, offense, incursion, inroad, invasion, irruption, outbreak, estrapade, ruade, coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade, raid, foray, run at, run against, dead set at, storm, storming, boarding, escalade, siege, investment, obsession, bombardment, cannonade, fire, volley, platoon fire, file fire, fusillade, sharpshooting, broadside, raking fire, cross fire, volley of grapeshot, whiff of the grape, feu d'enfer, cut, thrust, lunge, pass, passado, carte and tierce, home thrust, coupe de bec, kick, punch, battue, razzia, Jacquerie, dragonnade, devastation, eboulement, assailant, aggressor, invader, base of operations, point of attack, echelon, attacking, aggressive, offensive, obsidional, up in arms, on the offensive, Int, up and at them!, the din of arms, the yell of savage rage, the shriek of agony, the groan of death, their fatal hands no second stroke intend, thirst for glory quells the love of life.